Learning to Fly

Day Five.

First we got the Flight Planning results, Yes another pass but then straight into the exam room to take Human Performance. The first time I took this exam I had found it easy and only got one question wrong. This time I knew I had passed and was hoping for 100%.

After the exam we got down to study again and Aircraft Technical, this was interesting.

First we went into detail on the engine and its electrics. Then detail on the Carburetor and the fuel to air ratio and what happens as you gain altitude.

Then we covered the airplane structure and the propeller.

After that we covered the instruments and what happens during an electrical failure or suction pump failure, also a blockage of the static vent etc.

We finished up in the afternoon and took the exam.

A cold drink then my final results.

Passed not only that but I had passed the Navigation and scored 100% in the Human Performance.

Yes! All my exams passed.

Just Radio Practical, Qualifying Cross County, the Medical and the Final General Flight Test.

Day four Navigation.

We started off with the 1 in 60 rules and calculating closing angles to bring us back on course.

error x 60 error x 60
————- + ————
Dist Gone Dist to Go

EG: 100nm journey, 80nm to go and 4nm off course.

4 x 60 4 x 60
———- + ———- = 15 degree’s
20 80

Then calculating cross wind limits, True Air Speed, and Fuel requirements.

This went on and on until we started on actual routes and drawing lines of charts and completing a Pilots Log.

This was a very long day. At the end while some of the students went to the exam rooms A few of us were told to report to another tutor.

Part Two Human Performance
With Navigation running through are heads we went through Human Performance and were given lots of notes to take back with us to study tonight. We were told we would have the exam first thing Friday morning.

I then hit the exam room and did the exam. I did the Pilots Log first, then the questions.

Most were straight forward but then I hit the problem. My first track was exactly between two answers. Oh no. How they expect you to measure a track to within 1 degree is ridiculous. I measured the track again, applied the wind vector and still got the same answer. What to do, round up or round down.

I finished the paper and went back to the flat very worried.

That night I tried to put the Navigation paper out of my head and concentrate on reading my Human Performance notes.

Day Three and Flight Planning Exam.

I had one last read through my notes then into the exam room for 9:30.

It did not take long and I thought I had done enough to pass. Then off the Flight Computer lessons.

The rest of the morning was spent learning to use the flight computer and doing all the calculations we would need for the Navigation Exam. Luckily I found this easier then most of the other students as I has already been doing this sort of thing when planning my own flights.

We finished up about 11:30 and while the others went off to the Weather School I left and had an early day of it.

Day Two. Radio Theory.

First job was to collect my results. I must admit while nervous, I thought I had done well enough to pass. YES, 95% – so Law passed now on to more study.

Another 9am start. A different bunch of guy’s this time, including one doing his PPL in just 3 weeks. Wow, now thats hard work.

It started off with an explanation of the three groups of Aeronautical station.

The trick to remembering this is that ATC give orders, Radio could be the gardener and does not give instructions, while Information is the ‘at your discretion’ and is the gardener who has done a course! Not a very polite way of putting things as Air Ground services are often manned by pilots in there free time or off duty ATC’s.

Then it was into the categories of message:

This went on and on. Like the day before after each section we did some revision then mock questions on that section, then a short break and on to the next section.

This subject had lots of mnemonics.

To request Special VFR:
Can This Idiot Enter

Which of course is: Call, Type, Intention and ETA.

For MATZ entry:
Can This Daft Pilot Land Immediately

Call, Type, Dept/Dest, Position, Level and Intention.

Emergency:
My Name Can Tell Nobody I Panic Quickly

Position Reporting:
Post This Letter

Aircraft Identification, Position, Time, Level, Next Position and ETA

Harder one to remember this one as you have to remember the start and end.

Lots of practicing saying things the right way and definitions; H is HOH TELL not Hotel! Whats an Airway, definition of a Blind Transmission etc.

Saying numbers eg:
FL 100 is Flight Level One Hundred
Frequency 122.125 is One Two Two Decimal (Written phonetically DAYSEEMAL) One Two. Yep You miss the third digit off, got that one wrong on the mock tests.

Also as well as what is needed to pass the exam was lots of tips to actually help with the flying and radio work. We rushed through it at quite a pace and took the exam after lunch. Then it was on to the next subject Flight Planning.

Day Two part Two: Flight Planning

Now was the time to get out our Flight Computers. We started out doing lots of calculations converting US Gallons to Imperial Gallons and back. Converting Gallon’s to Pounds Weight.

Then explanations on MTWA, MAUW and MTOW, also a term I had never heard before, Max Zero Fuel Weight. Basically the max weight of an aircraft with no fuel in it.

We then started Weight and Balance calculations, very easy but with no calculator and just the flight computer they can be tricky.

Then on to Runway dimensions, basically the same as the Law exam with explanations of the terms TODA and TORA etc.

This all went on and on. Then mock exams and home time. Exam would be first thing in the morning but just before we went we got our Radio results, another pass!

Yes I know, I have already passed my Law but there is a little catch in learning to fly. From you first exam to your last exam, it must not take longer then 18 months. Well my Met was 12 months ago but my Law and Human Performance were out of date. I was hoping to get my PPL this year so that meant getting all the exams out of the way soon.

What to do? Home study was not going well, I just was not finding the time. Checking out the forums UKGA and the back page adverts in Todays Pilot Magazine gave me an idea. A one week intensive ground school course at Bournemouth Airport. Why Bournemouth, well my Brother in Law has a flat near there and it would get me away from home and work so I could just concentrate on study and exams. I decide to do it.

Monday 9:00, and we started on Law. It was a heavy day lots of lectures and study followed by revision and mock papers on each area. By 18:00 we had finished and it was time for the exam. I finished quite quickly and went back to the flat exhausted. Lets hope I had passed.